OCD TREATMENT

OCD Forum: This May Be Preventing You From Becoming OCD Free

2008-09-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

Are you stuck in that house? Is there anywhere that you can go that you will not have to face that dreaded OCD?

It's with you at home, it's with you when you go out.

You've tried all the programs, some were helpful for a while but your OCD never really went away.

You've probably given up and said, "There is no cure!"

I am here to tell you that there is a cure, and I only know that because I used to suffer from OCD and don't anymore.

So, what is it that's holding you back from becoming OCD free?

It's your beliefs. You first have to believe that you CAN become OCD free!

You can't win the race if you don't know where the finish line is?

So now you know that you have to believe, you have to back up those beliefs with actions. One is dead without the other.

What's preventing you from becoming OCD free is not doing the right actions. Non OCD actions.

Act like other people who do not have OCD. See how they act in the same situations that you would normally have OCD about and see how they deal with it.

Copy them!

Take action: So we know that what's holding us back from becoming OCD free is not believing that we CAN be OCD free!

The second thing that holds us back if we believe is the action that is necessary to become OCD free.

Combine these two principles above and you'll find that getting rid of OCD is must easier than you think and you'll laugh to yourself thinking about all those times that you felt you had to perform a ritual.

For more instantly usable free information click: Become OCD Free

Derek Soto is an ex-sufferer of OCD who teaches people how to overcome their OCD for good in a very short time using little known techniques which are usually ignored by the medical field altogether.

Derek Soto also mentors people on a wide range of subjects including how to control your thinking naturally, how to defeat anxiety, phobias and how to change your thought processes so that you will be happier and live a more fulfilling life, period.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Soto

Now, for the first time, you can finally become OCD free!

2008-08-26T16:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered if you were going to have to suffer with OCD for the rest of your life? You know I asked my doctor that same question. He said I would!
I outright refused to be told what to believe and I decided to find people who no longer suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder so that I could learn everything I could from them.

I was very happy that I made that decision and in the process I ended up proving everybody wrong. I did not limit myself to what other people believe or what they thought was possible.

I decided what I wanted my life to be and created that by working hard toward that goal. I am here to tell you that you can do the same thing. I didn't have any special abilities or talents in this area, I just knew what I wanted and went after it.

So the first part which is so important is to believe that it can be done. whatever it is that you want to do including but not limited to becoming OCD free. The next part is to realize that faith without works is dead. Now, for the first time, you can finally become OCD free!

So in order for you faith to work, you've got to back it up with massive action toward that goal. Then you have to continue on until you are successful. The secret is to not give up. So many people give up two steps before they were going to have a break-through.

What kind of thought life do you want to have? Stop allowing your thoughts to make you scared and control how you feel inside. Instead, dictate what your thoughts are going to be so that you can be happy and successful. There are too many people that simply don't have enough confidence in themselves and lack self-esteem.

You don't have to be one of those people. I am here to tell you that you do have a choice. Once you realize that you have the option of making a choice, you will be more empowered!

Stop being lazy, stop making excuses and pointing your finger. You and only you are responsible for your success. You are responsible for the destiny which you create for yourself. We are not meant or designed to be spectators in this world.

We are made in God's image, and He is a creator. We too are creators of the world around us. You can choose what kind of life you create for yourself, sad or happy, it's your choice!

The Bible talks about thinking of things which are pure and good and those things which cause you to have hope and have a better attitude. I would suggest that you cut off friendships with people who are negative because their words are like a poison. No, instead, surround yourself with people who are happy and who love life!

Get other people around you who you admire and want to be like so that you can have a better life! Your life is what you make it. What will you do with yours?

About the Author
http://www.ocd-gone-in-seven-days.com Derek J. Soto is an ex-sufferer of OCD who can show you how to get rid of your obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Cure - 5 Facts You Should Know

2008-08-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

Finding an obsessive-compulsive disorder cure is often much easier if you first make yourself familiar with some of the basic OCD facts. What follows are 5 facts that you should know in order to effectively begin treating your OCD.

1. Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects 1 in every 40 people. That represents about 2.5 percent of the entire population. This is a surprisingly large number of people, but it should be noted that of those 2.5 % of people, only a few will have OCD to a level that affects the quality of their lives.

2. The vast majority of people are aged between 19 and 25 at the time they're diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, although some people and their doctors fail to recognize the symptoms as OCD, and so they're often misdiagnosed until their 30s or 40s.

3. Did you know that the average person will live with their OCD for 17 years before they seek help of any kind? That's a staggering statistic, especially when you consider OCD's degenerative qualities, and how the condition worsens over time. The earlier action is taken the easier recovery will be.

4. There are many doctors and psychologists who are still not well-informed with OCD, its symptoms, signs, and treatments. This can lead to years of misdiagnosis and unnecessary suffering. To prevent this happening, more and more people with OCD are taking the time to learn all they can about the condition, in order to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis, and to find a treatment suited to their own specific needs.

5. Despite many theories to the contrary, OCD actually effects men and women equally. In the past this statistic was often skewed due to the tendency for less men to seek help or advice for a problem like OCD. But the stigma that once prevented men from seeking help has long since faded, and OCD is now considered by the population at large as a legitimate and treatable form of anxiety disorder.

Learning some simple facts about OCD is a great start to finding your own path to recovery. People with OCD who learn all they can about their condition typically experience a much quicker recovery, and less chance of relapsing. This is an ideal way to begin looking for your own obsessive-compulsive disorder cure.

About the Author

Since overcoming a lifelong battle with anxiety and panic disorder in 2007, Alex Taylor now devotes his time to helping others recover. He achieves this via his highly-acclaimed online course, "Beat Panic Today." You can experience the same results that many others have experienced by accessing the course right now, free of charge, by going to Alex's website: http://www.PreventYourPanic.com

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Can Be A Hindrance

2008-08-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder which includes unwanted thoughts and repetitive behavior like hand washing, counting, cleaning or checking. These rituals provide temporary relief and if they are not performed, anxiety is increased. If you have OCD, you have repeated upsetting thoughts known as obsessions. You perform the same thing repeatedly - this is compulsive behavior. Examples are a fear of being hurt. It tends to run in families.
[b]Causes of OCD[/b]

Doctors are not absolutely sure of the causes of OCD. People believe that all anxiety disorders are associated with feeling a lack of control that go back to insecure attachments in childhood. This insecure attachment can produce changes in the brain and may happen to generations in one family. OCD is known to be a medical disorder and is not the fault of a person with a weak or unstable personality.

[b]Symptoms[/b]

Some of the symptoms of OCD include turning the lights or the stove off or locking the door, lacking will power when it comes to shopping, compulsive gamblers or substance abuse. When alcohol or tobacco is a part of your life, you feel anxiety and you are compelled to use them even though they are harmful. You could be a compulsive worker without a break or a compulsive eater or exerciser.

[b]Prevention[/b]

Early treatment can prevent future problems. Watch for symptoms of OCD and prevent a relapse by sticking to your therapy and taking medicines that are prescribed. Take care of yourself and involve family members in your treatment. Communicate with your family and loved ones. Reduce stress in your life. Take slow, deep breaths. Listen to soothing music and soak yourself in a warm bath. Try yoga, eat a balanced diet and stick to an exercise routine.

[b]Treatment[/b]

Apart from medication which you can discuss with your doctor, there are types of counseling available that could be effective in treating OCD. Treatment includes a combination of professional counseling and medicines. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe both counseling and an anti-depressant. You may be asked to write down a list of rituals and then expose yourself to each obsession in order to overcome them.

[b]Treatment Centers[/b]

The obsessive compulsive disorder hospitalization program at treatment centers offer treatment for children, adolescents and adults. A strict cognitive behavioral (exposure and ritual prevention) approach is used. Medication will be supervised. The treatment team includes a Masters level therapist, a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker and registered nurse. After six sessions over a four month period, follow-ups are conducted over the phone.

About the Author
Shilpa Agarwal owns the firm Sstream Inkk and is herself an experienced content writer. Currently she is developing content for contact her.

Various Symptoms/Signs Of Anxiety Disorder

2008-07-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

Anxiety Disorder-A Brief Introduction by Hailey Harris
In a medical terminology, anxiety disorder usually refers to a state of nervousness or uneasiness. Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders. It is basically defined as a critical disturbance in the mental state that can ultimately lead to chronic anxiety. It usually arises due to work pressure, highly constrained work schedules which tend to disturb the mood or behavior of a person. However, if proper anxiety treatments are not followed well in time, it can even harm the mental state of a person.

A person suffering from anxiety disorder often experiences a long-drawn-out feeling of distress or fright and discomfortness. This disorder can further create a bad impact on relationships with friends, family and the colleagues.

Various Symptoms / Signs of Anxiety disorder:

So far researchers have conducted an in-depth study to determine the precise reason for anxiety disorders. Finally, they have concluded that this trouble mainly arises due to the biological factors along with various personal situations faced by an individual. This disorder not only affects the individual's behavior, thoughts, action, emotions but also the physical health. It is so common that individual anxiety disorder can be seen. Moreover, an individual can suffer even more than one anxiety disorder at a time. Anxiety disorder is accompanied by a series of other troubles as well including depression, substance abuse or eating disorders.

Various symptoms/signs of anxiety disorder include:

Panic Disorder: Panic disorder is basically a type of anxiety disorder. Such a type of disorder is usually experienced in the unexpected panic attacks that come along with the feeling of fear. This attack can also affect the physical health of a person, thus resulting in breathing problems, severe pain in chest, heart strokes, and fear of death as well as acute pain in the abdomen.

Agoraphobia , with or without panic disorder: This is basically a condition in which a person fails to avoid or escape from a panic attack. OCD or Obsessive 'Compulsive Disorder: This is an uncontrollable condition in which an individual suffers from constant unnecessary thoughts, commonly termed as obsessions and compulsions (or rituals). A typical instance of obsessions includes doubtful temperament, serious concerns regarding contamination and much more. The various instances of compulsions include counting, checking and the systematic organization of things.

PTSD or Post-Traumatic stress disorder: Post-traumatic disorder is usually the consequence of a horrible or a terrific experience that might have took place in one's life. Most often the victims of war, natural disaster or child abduction may experience this stress disorder. The general symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, rudeness in temperament, feelings of fear as well as frustrations.

Phobias:

Such an anxiety disorder is usually categorized into two groups:

Social Phobia: It is also sometimes termed as social anxiety disorder, in which a person fears to deal with social situations. Not only this, but he may also feel conscious & embarrassed to deal with gatherings and also fails to lead a normal life.

Specific Phobia: In this type of anxiety disorder, a person is often beset with unreasonable fears that are quite impossible to control. The extreme stage of specific phobia is one when a person designates his fear as illogical one. The typical instances include terror of heights, open spaces as well as the fear of flying.

GAD: An acronym GAD stands for Generalized Anxiety disorder. The general symptoms include headache, loss of fatigue & nausea. The exaggerated worries related to daily routine activities & events disorder are the main reason behind this type of anxiety disorder.

About the Author
Hailey Harris is an expert in Anxiety after dealing with anxiety and other health problems for more than 8 years. Now free of panic attacks and severe anxiety she teaches others to do the same at http://www.ridmyanxiety.com/squeezer.html . For free anxiety tips visit http://www.ridmyanxiety.com/articles.html .

OCD-Compulsive Rituals And Magical Thinking

2008-07-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

OCD-Compulsive Rituals And Magical Thinking by B. Rockrunner

This article is a shortened excerpt from the book "Tiger by the Tail" available at http://Lulu.com. Tiger by the Tail is the story of my personal recovery from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This is not a scholarly work; it is a memoir. I have no credentials as a health care professional, nor am I a layperson who has done exhaustive research.

So much for what I am not--what I am, is a survivor of OCD--who has recovered. I wrote this book for others who would also be survivors and who would find the tools that they need to do so. It is also for those who love, wish to help, or live with someone who is afflicted with this disorder.

As a "lonely only," (as the term went when I was a child), I lived alone most of the time. My mother told my father to leave when I was eight and my mother had to work full time. I came home from school alone. I am sure the circumstances of my life at the time left me feeling rejected. But, due to this disorder, I projected it onto the garbage. Somehow, I managed to anthropomorphize garbage bags. I would hate to throw them out. It felt as if I were rejecting them. In itself, this is sad but not devastating. However, this grew into my making sure that bags were placed together touching, so they wouldn't be lonely, and much more. Collecting garbage is a natural outcome of this thinking. My father collected garbage. Was he lonely too? Please understand that I was not seeking companionship with the trash. I sympathized with its being discarded and did not want to be the agent of its rejection. In some ways, it is a noble act. I refused to do the same hurt onto "another" that, in my childish mind, I felt was being done to me. Nobility is the cornerstone of this disease--Misplaced Nobility.

OCD is no simple matter. It is not just one thing that causes a single behavior. An evolution takes place. A personal religion develops that is a response to many different feelings. Loneliness creates a need. Anthropomorphizing objects creates a medium and the disease finds an opportunity. We create a new ritual and the reason is lost in memory. Once it takes hold, it is very hard to stop.

This particular ritual found its way to the grocery store and made me feel the need to make sure that I pick cans, bottles and anything else from the end of the shelf, never from the middle. I would not have wanted to break up a couple or a family of bottles or cans. My original reasons are obvious, considering my "lonely only" life. But, that is simply not enough on its own to force an adult to do something they think is silly or that they wish they didn't have to do. There must be more. There is more. It is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

I would spawn rituals. Those that involved fear were the strongest. Simple ones like the one I just described are not so strong but they are so easy to justify. What harm does it really do? Of course, it is silly but what if they do feel that way? It does not seem to create real hardship to continue. Nevertheless, continuing does in fact create harm. It supports the disease. In order to win you must be determined to weed out all rituals. This is very important.

This is still going on for me. I am still amazed to find myself doing small things that I never thought of as a ritual, just small traditions or something like that. Yet they are rituals, harmless in their own right, but harmful in that they support the whole mindset. They must all be stopped; I stop them as soon as I see them.

When you make a list of your rituals, similar to the partial list I have shown earlier, you will be amazed at their number and scope. No matter how complete your list may be, it will not be truly complete. It took a lifetime to develop your rituals. Some are so simple or even cute and loving that you may not even recognize them as such. It takes time. However, the minute you begin, you have won. Remember that--the minute you begin to stop--you have won.

There are worksheets in the back of "Tiger by the Tail" to help you begin the process of creating your list of rituals.

There are many good and positive rituals. A valuable ritual might be meditation or prayer. I feel the need to pray and meditate. Nevertheless, if I do not sit or pray, it is all right. Nothing bad will happen. I have not prayed for months at a time without fear of "not praying." Is that a good thing? No. It leaves me cut off from a valuable source of healing. However, there is no sense of doom, punishment, or loss that cannot be reclaimed. Prayer and meditation help me to maintain a sense of serenity. When I stop, my serenity lessens and I become more anxious. That is not a punishment or a penalty anymore than hunger is a penalty for not eating. However, if a ritual begins to have a perceived negative impact for you in itself, or becomes required to prevent some unknown or known catastrophe, then it is not a good ritual. If you fear loss of power, punishment or an unknown or known negative outcome, it is a negative ritual and must be stopped. Don't worry. They have no power. You will be fine. I know you do not believe that yet, but you may soon.

Rituals that must be stopped have common characteristics that make them very easy to identify. They are based on fear or supplication and have a penalty to pay, if not performed. I do realize that many of the world's formal religious rituals could easily be placed in this category. For conveniences sake, let us for the moment exclude such institutional activities and limit this category even further.

Here is how to tell the difference between the punishment that may be described by your chosen faith and the punishment of failing to perform Obsessive Compulsive Disorder rituals. OCD rituals have a penalty to be paid for not being performed--THAT IS KNOWN ONLY TO YOU. If someone else sees it performed or even participated in some manner, but does not understand the purpose of the ritual or the consequences of its failure, it is still secret and is known only to you. If your faith has punishments for failure to adhere to its doctrine, those consequences will be known to all learned practitioners of that faith. They are not a secret. Therefore, we have a few clues to help identify those activities that are actually an Obsessive Compulsive Ritual.

1. They are secret. No one but you knows their FULL significance.

2. There is a secret penalty for failure to perform the ritual. This may be something that will occur, which will not occur, or where something or some power might be lost.

3. There is a special feeling or moment when you know it was properly done. (You may then disbelieve it again a moment later). However, if that feeling is not present, the ritual must be redone properly. For some it can be as simple as hearing a proper "click" when a light switch is turned off or as elusive as a feeling in your mind that says it is satisfied.

These rituals are habits--nothing more. Why do professional athletes practice so often? Not just to build their bodies. It is to train their BRAIN. Repetition makes pathways that are optimized for the activity being repeated. Your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder rituals are maintained by repetition. Performing them optimizes you to perform them more--and more. There is a way out of this loop. "Tiger by the Tail" describes how I recovered. Now, I have no such rituals. When I see a new one start--I stop it instantly. You can too.

About the Author
B.Rockrunner is a pen name used by the author of "Tiger by the Tail" A personal story of recovery from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. These articles are edited excerpts from that work.

Natural OCD Supplements

2008-07-08T17:46:00.001-07:00

People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) suffer from fears or obsessions that develop into compulsive behavior patterns that compensate for these obsessions or fears. For example, people with OCD relating to dirt or germs may have a fear of invisible germs and so they develop compensating behaviors like compulsive bathing, hand washing and dishwashing.

There are a number of effective natural treatments and supplements for OCD sufferers.

OCD was once regarded as a psychological condition (opinions of psychiatrists and psychologists) caused by forceful or early potty training.

It is now known that OCD has physical and mental or emotional elements and that certain people are predisposed to it at birth. Good progress in treating the condition is evident when normal chemical levels in the brain are achieved as opposed to only psychological or behavioral treatment.

Natural supplements must ensure that biochemical factors, which predispose sufferers of OCD to the condition, are addressed - some FDA approved medications are Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), also used in treating depression.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and helps the nervous system to release additional serotonin. Some non medication methods are: Cut out caffeine or reduce intake gradually. Raise cholesterol above 170 to ensure a sufficient supply of good fats to repair and maintain the myelin sheaths are critical to the nervous system. Maintain proper intake levels of B-complex vitamins for normal brain function. Ensure adequate Omega or 3 fatty acids consumption to nourish nerve sheaths - a daily diet of fatty fish is not realistic so include flax seed oil (1 tbs) or milled flax seed (2 tbs). Take 8 to 10 Spirulina capsules daily this helps nourishment of myelin sheaths and nerves. Health food stores can provide herbal blends that contain Valerian to help nerve treatment so take the recommended dosages the first week, then increase it by one tablet after every fourth day till dreaming is consistent, after which cut back dosage one per day until no dreaming occurs. Increase dosage to get to a dreaming state again and maintain that dosage. Usually consistent dreaming will result after about three months of this routine. Symptoms can disappear inside 9 months so carry on with the routine for a further 3 months until symptoms have disappeared before discontinuing it.

Cognitive behavior therapy is another natural treatment for OCD which is a 'talking' therapy that helps individuals overcome behavioral habits. Many times there are coexisting problems with OCD like anxiety disorders and depression relating to social issues surrounding OCD. This therapy helps these people to reestablish behavior patterns and assists in the healing process. Treatment involves herbal supplements and behavioral help to achieve success.

About the Author
Bob Cotto spent most of his life as a Sr. Sales & Marketing executive. Two years ago his wife of 43 years, Joanne was told that she had 4th stage cancer. Since then, Bob and Joanne have devoted all of their energy to assisting her in maintaining a high quality of life. Find out more about his efforts at his site 4-Ideal-Health.

If You're Not Doing This, You'll Never Get Over Your OCD!

2008-07-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

If you have OCD you need to be resisting all forms of rituals.

Some people make exceptions and choose to do certain rituals and not others. They cherry pick which rituals they will and will not do.

Here's the key. You need to quit all of them! No exceptions.

Don't make plans to stop certain ones, just simply stop all rituals.

Stopping rituals will not kill you even if it feels like it. In fact it will only make you stronger.

When you perform a ritual, your brain releases calming chemicals into your body.

When you stop performing a ritual, it's like going through withdrawals from that chemical.

Give it a few days and it won't be as hard.

So what we need to know is that our brain operates with chemicals and electrical impulses.

We need to realize that negative chemicals that are bad for the body are associated with negative thoughts and positive chemicals, chemicals that are good for the body are associated with positive thoughts.

There are a lot of programs out there that will help you integrate all of the things that have to happen to become OCD free, but if you just stop performing rituals, you will be more than well on your way!

Take action: It's imperative that you do not cherry pick the rituals that you stop. You've simply got to stop all of them, period.

One thing that you need to remember is that you'd only short change yourself if you do not abide by these rules and regulations.

For more instantly usable free information click: "Become OCD Free"

Derek Soto is an ex-sufferer of OCD who teaches people how to overcome their OCD for good in a very short time using little known techniques which are usually ignored by the medical field altogether.

Derek Soto also mentors people on a wide range of subjects including how to control your thinking naturally, how to defeat anxiety, phobias and how to change your thought processes so that you will be happier and live a more fulfilling life, period.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Soto

CBT Therapy and OCD

2008-06-26T16:57:00.000-07:00

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety related disorder that can have severe impacts on the everyday functioning of those with this disorder affecting them in life areas such as self-care, leisure and work. OCD is a fairly common disorder that effects people from various cultural and social backgrounds. It also affects people of all ages from children to adults.
At my CBT therapy practice, Edinburgh, people with varying forms of OCD account for 50% of my caseload of clients. Some of my clients also have support from NHS Community Mental Health Teams. However, often people come to see me who have been struggling for many years with OCD, with little or no support.

Most people, especially in times of stress, may have experienced OCD-type symptoms such as doubting you have turned off the oven or locked the door. However, for those with OCD, persistent doubts, urges or images are much more frequent, intrusive and distressing and can really lead to a reduced quality of life and disruption in occupational performance. For some the distress of living with OCD can also lead to depression.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is considered to be the therapy of choice for OCD, with research studies backing its effectiveness. CBT is a short term and structured psychological therapy that looks at the relationship between what we think, what we feel and how we respond. CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy, which examines cognitive processes such as unwanted thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs and behavioural therapy, which focuses on behaviour in response to those thoughts.

For example, a person with OCD may experience an unpleasant intrusive thought. Sometimes, although not always, the person with OCD may feel compelled to engage in a less than rational, compulsive behavior or mental ritual in a bid to reduce the anxiety associated with the thought. For example, excessive checking of door locks, washing of hands to avoid contamination or mental ritual of some kind. These very acts, which the person with OCD uses to cope with or reduce their OCD anxiety, in fact keep OCD going.

At my CBT therapy practice, near Edinburgh, the aim is to helps the person with OCD understand that by resisting the compulsive urge to check the locks, wash hands or mentally ritualize, they can eventually "sit out" their anxiety until the anxiety level naturally diminishes and fades over time. This is a technique known in CBT as exposure and response prevention. This technique helps OCD get better.

The treatment of OCD at my CBT therapy practice Edinburgh, also involves other techniques and methods such as equipping the person with relaxation and mindfulness skills, which are both very useful in managing OCD. Time is also given to helping the person set goals to begin re-engaging in life activities, which are important to them, if OCD has led to disruption in life roles.

In the cases of more severe OCD, medication can also be useful, therefore if you feel you may have OCD you should visit your GP for further information.

About the Author
Karen Hastings is a NHS experienced mental health occupational therapist, Master NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist. Karen uses CBT, NLP and hypnotherapy in Edinburgh, Scotland. visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk

Different Forms of Anxiety Treatment for You

2008-06-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

Anxiety can be treated by taking medicines or therapy. The first step in getting any type of help is realizing you've got an anxiety disorder. If you've ever found yourself excessively tense, edgy or irritable inside a store or in general you may actually have anxiety. A few other symptoms are muscle tension, headaches, constantly tired, frequent urination, sweating or trembling.
If you go inside a store and the slightest noise makes you jump, or even if you can't make it through an entire store without breaking out in the sweats, these are two signs that you could have anxiety and need to be seen by a doctor. Other disorders that you may have are OCD, depression, panic disorders, drug abuse and other phobias.

A person that sees a therapist may only have a slight disorder that can be treated within a few sessions. Or a person may need psychotherapy which involves getting help from a true mental health provider that actually sits down and listens to your fears. This will help them in knowing how to treat you. After a while a therapist should be able to tell you the triggers that set your anxiety off and how you can change it in a more positive way.

Anxiety may actually stem from something that happened in your own childhood or teen years, some don't get it until they are an adult and have something happen. Yet, there are still a few that develop it by shutting themselves in, watching the news and not socializing with others. A doctor is the best person to go to if you can't seem to shake anxiety, he/she may prescribe you anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication.

Medications that a doctor may prescribe to you are the following:

Benzodiazepines- used for anxiety as a muscle relaxer Xanax- approved by the FDA in 1981 for Generalized anxiety BuSpar- must take two per day Valuium- anti-anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder) used since 1963 Librium- in the same family as benzodiazepines and used for short-term relief Paxil- came into use around 1992, used as an antidepressant Effexor- began being used in 1993 for antidepressant and was just released under generic names in 2008.

Some of these medications you may have heard of while others are new and just starting to hit the shelves. However, if a doctor recommends them they are probably safe to take, but if you ever have questions make sure to ask them. A doctor has no clue about what goes through your mind unless you ask. Please be aware that when taking some anxiety medications you may be overcome with sleepiness or sexual problems. This is a common issue, but if you are at all worried by it talk it over with your doctor. Keep in mind the above medications should only be taken if and only if a doctor prescribes them for you. Do not take them from a friend/family/stranger that offers them to you.

About the Author
Wouldn't it be great to have a solution to eliminate depression with a proven anxiety treatment almost instantly? Read my Linden Method review.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2007-10-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Do you know that the presence of unwanted thoughts and repeated indescribable actions is a disease, called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? For example, the person's doubt about turned off iron is an obsession.
OCD is an anxiety disorder in which the mind is flooded with recurrent and persistent thoughts, images and impulses. These obsessions are perceived as involuntary, senseless, repugnant and difficult to dismiss. Obsessions are usually concerned with contamination, harming of one or others, excessive doubt or breaking social rules, such as swearing or making inappropriate sexual advances in public. Such thoughts are widespread with 90% of people reporting their occurrence yet few develop such exaggerated behavior that a single aspect of life becomes one's sole reason for being. The obsession usually produces a feeling of anxiety and the urge to neutralize the obsession by carrying out a particular behavior. The act is performed with a sense of subjective compulsion and a desire to resist the compulsion. Compulsions are stereotyped, repetitive behaviors, performed according to strict rules. The behavior is designed to prevent some future event and thus alleviate anxiety, e.g. a patient may repeatedly have the obsessive thought that objects are covered with cancer germs and so compulsively wash their hands. Other common compulsions include counting, checking, touching, and hoarding (DSM III-R, 1987).
The victim often realizes the action is futile and irrational, with 78% of patients viewing their compulsion as rather silly or absurd. Constant requests for reassurance are also common, e.g. repeatedly asking whether they show signs of disease. Verbal reassurance or medical examination merely reduces the anxiety for a few minutes or hours. These requests are like an addiction, reassurance merely reinforcing the probability that further requests will be made. These endless requests can be viewed as compulsive rituals. OCD affects 1-3% of the population often beginning in early adulthood following a stressful life event. It shows marked co morbidity with depression and alcohol abuse, panic attacks and phobias, and various personality disorders. Sufferers usually have severe interpersonal problems; people who require their spouse to have a four hour bath before sexual intercourse, or their children to wash their hands for half an hour before eating, may evoke feelings of resentment. This hostility can produce feelings of depression and generalized anxiety in the sufferer. Furthermore marital distress may exasperate the condition, as the patient substitutes their compulsive symptoms for overt marital conflict. The person was thus fixated at the anal stage, and the struggle between the id and the ego's defense mechanisms results in OCD. When the id dominates disturbing, unacceptable obsessions intrude. Compulsions reflect partial success of the defense mechanisms. For example, an individual fixated at the anal stage may, by reaction formation, resist the urge to soil and become compulsively neat and orderly. Treatment thus attempted to remove the repression, allowing the patient to confront the underlying fear that a particular impulse will be gratified. The symptoms themselves were not targeted since they are merely a defense against the repressed conflict.
Unfortunately psychoanalysis is ineffective at treating OCD. Indeed free association makes the problem worse by feeding the patient's mania. To illustrate how the theory is implemented in practice let us look at one of the most common OCD, excessive hand washing due to fear of contamination by dirt or germs. The main principles are to face up to what is feared, never to avoid discomfort, and to practice repeatedly doing what is feared until (Marks, 1981). Hospitalization may be required to start the treatment as the patient usually finds self-directed exposure difficult to initiate, but generalization to the home setting begins immediately. Firstly the rationale behind the treatment is explained. Patients often worry that the anxiety might not subside. The therapist should agree that this may be true, but question the patient about the longest period they have managed to resist the compulsion and the worst that could happen if the compulsion was resisted for, say, one hour. This can then lead into behavioral experiments with the patient investigating the effects of not washing. Secondly a treatment plan is formulated with the patient, by agreeing short-, medium- and long-term target plans, focusing on those symptoms that are interfering most with the patient's life, and that they are most motivated to tackle. The patient is then introduced to the exposure. This is the most difficult stage because the patient will express considerable distress. If the therapist remains firm yet understanding a trusting, task-orientated relationship should develop. The patient should not be reassured about the safety of the task, e.g. by denying that the patient can pick up germs from the object. Failure to establish a confident, structured approach at this stage is difficult to correct later. Cognitive therapy is used in conjunction with the above behavioral techniques forming a two-pronged attack on the problem. This is important as a patient may show reduced anxiety in the behavioral system (e.g. by approaching the feared stimulus) but show an increase in subjective anxiety and anxious thoughts. The cognitive model argues that patients are particularly vulnerable to interpreting intrusive thoughts as indicating that they may be in a position to prevent harm to them or others (i.e. over perceive their responsibility).
The patient believes that having influence over potential harm is identical to being responsible for it. These beliefs are activated by a critical incident, which involves an element of increased perceived responsibility, e.g. news item about the spread of AIDS. Such occurrences may trigger negative automatic thoughts that their actions (or inaction) may make them responsible for harm. These thoughts are plausible and believable so the individual becomes anxious and takes precautions to reduce the responsibility, e.g. washing to remove the HIV virus. Such neutralizing maintains the obsession by preventing the patient from disconfirming their fears of harm. It also increases the acceptance of worries about responsibility, and makes the obsession thought the subject of further cognitive processing. OCD is increasingly recognized to have a biochemical basis with particular interest focused on fluoxetine (Prozac), the serotonin reuptake blocker. However, because psychological treatments aim to bring about permanent changes they are generally better at preventing relapse as compared with medication. Combinations are well worth investigating, but problems may arise if the patient fails to make use of psychological methods because improvement is attributed to the drug. In conclusion OCD is perhaps the most intractable of the neuroses, though cognitive-behavior therapy has proved remarkably effective in its treatment. An advantage of this therapy is the way in which it can be adapted and improved, by adding or removing components. It seems likely that techniques will be refined further over the next decade, particularly by increasingly intertwining the cognitive and behavioral treatments.

How to Deal Effectively with Anxiety

2007-09-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

Every human feels anxiety on occasion; it is a part of life. All of us know what it is like to feel worry, nervousness, fear, and concern. We feel nervous when we have to give a speech, go for a job interview, or walk into our boss’s office for the annual performance appraisal. We know it’s normal to feel a surge of fear when we unexpectedly see a photo of a snake or look down from the top of a tall building. Most of us manage these kinds of anxious feelings fairly well and are able to carry on with our lives without much difficulty. These feelings don’t disrupt our lives.

But millions of people (an estimated 15% of the population) suffer from devastating and constant anxiety that severely affects their lives, sometimes resulting in living in highly restricted ways. These people experience panic attacks, phobias, extreme shyness, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors. The feeling of anxiety is a constant and dominating force that disrupts their lives. Some become prisoners in their own homes, unable to leave to work, drive, or visit the grocery store. For these people, anxiety is much more than just an occasional wave of apprehension.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

An anxiety disorder affects a person’s behavior, thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. The most common anxiety disorders include the following:

Social anxiety or social phobia is a fear of being around other people. People who suffer from this disorder always feel self-conscious around others. They have the feeling that everyone is watching them and staring at them, being critical in some way. Because the anxiety is so painful, they learn to stay away from social situations and avoid other people. Some eventually need to be alone at all times, in a room with the door closed. The feeling is pervasive and constant and even happens with people they know.

People who have social anxiety know that their thoughts and fears are not rational. They are aware that others are not actually judging or evaluating them at every moment. But this knowledge does not make the feelings disappear.

Panic disorder is a condition where a person has panic attacks without warning. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, about 5% of the adult American population suffers from panic attacks. Some experts say that this number is actually higher, since many people experience panic attacks but never receive treatment.

Common symptoms of panic include:

• Racing or pounding heart
• Trembling
• Sweaty palms
• Feelings of terror
• Chest pains or heaviness in the chest
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Fear of dying
• Fear of going crazy
• Fear of losing control
• Feeling unable to catch one’s breath
• Tingling in the hands, feet, legs, or arms

A panic attack typically lasts several minutes and is extremely upsetting and frightening. In some cases, panic attacks last longer than a few minutes or strike several times in a short time period.

A panic attack is often followed by feelings of depression and helplessness. Most people who have experienced panic say that the greatest fear is that the panic attack will happen again.

Many times, the person who has a panic attack doesn’t know what caused it. It seems to have come “out of the blue.” At other times, people report that they were feeling extreme stress or had encountered difficult times and weren’t surprised that they had a panic attack.

Generalized anxiety disorder is quite common, affecting an estimated 3 to 4% of the population. This disorder fills a person’s life with worry, anxiety, and fear. People who have this disorder are always thinking and dwelling on the “what ifs” of every situation. It feels like there is no way out of the vicious cycle of anxiety and worry. The person often becomes depressed about life and their inability to stop worrying.

People who have generalized anxiety usually do not avoid situations, and they don’t generally have panic attacks. They can become incapacitated by an inability to shut the mind off, and are overcome with feelings of worry, dread, fatigue, and a loss of interest in life. The person usually realizes these feelings are irrational, but the feelings are also very real. The person’s mood can change from day to day, or even hour to hour. Feelings of anxiety and mood swings become a pattern that severely disrupts the quality of life.

People with generalized anxiety disorder often have physical symptoms including headaches, irritability, frustration, trembling, inability to concentrate, and sleep disturbances. They may also have symptoms of social phobia and panic disorder.

Other types of anxiety disorders include:

Phobia, fearing a specific object or situation.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a system of ritualized behaviors or obsessions that are driven by anxious thoughts.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe anxiety that is triggered by memories of a past traumatic experience.

Agoraphobia, disabling fear that prevents one from leaving home or another safe place.

Treatment Options

Most people who suffer from anxiety disorders begin to feel better when they receive the proper treatment. It can be difficult to identify the correct treatment, however, because each person’s anxiety is caused by a unique set of factors. It can be frustrating for the client when treatment is not immediately successful or takes longer than hoped for. Some clients feel better after a few weeks or months of treatment, while others may need a year or more. If a person has an anxiety disorder in combination with another disorder (such as alcoholism and depression), treatment is more complicated and takes longer.

While a treatment plan must be specifically designed for each individual, there are a number of standard approaches. Mental health professionals who specialize in treating anxiety most often use a combination of the following treatments. There is no single correct approach.

Cognitive Therapy

The client learns how to identify and change unproductive thought patterns by observing his or her feelings and learning to separate realistic from unrealistic thoughts.

Behavior Therapy

This treatment helps the client alter and control unwanted behavior. Systematic desensitization, a type of behavior therapy, is often used to help people with phobias and OCD. The client is exposed to anxiety-producing stimuli one small step at a time, gradually increasing his or her tolerance to situations that have produced disabling anxiety.

Relaxation Training

Many people with anxiety disorders benefit from self-hypnosis, guided visualization, and biofeedback. Relaxation training is often part of psychotherapy.

Medication

Antidepressant and antianxiety medications can help restore chemical imbalances that cause symptoms of anxiety. This is an effective treatment for many people, especially in combination with psychotherapy.

The treatment for an anxiety disorder depends on the severity and length of the problem. The client’s willingness to actively participate in treatment is also an important factor. When a person with panic is motivated to try new behaviors and practice new skills and techniques, he or she can learn to change the way the brain responds to familiar thoughts and feelings that have previously caused anxiety.

Garrett Coan is a professional therapist,coach and psychotherapist. His two Northern New Jersey office locations are accessible to individuals who reside in Bergen County, Essex County, Passaic County, Rockland County, and Manhattan. He offers online and telephone coaching and counseling services for those who live at a distance. He can be accessed through http://www.creativecounselors.com or 201-303-4303.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garrett_Coan

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Facts

2007-09-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions which attempt to neutralize the obsessions. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood and is seen in as many as 1 in 200 children and adolescents. OCD is a type of anxiety that happens when there is a problem with the way the brain deals with normal worrying and doubts. Feeling driven to perform such rituals over and over may indicate that you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder, ritualistic behaviors may literally take over your life. Obsessions are recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are unwanted and cause marked anxiety or distress. Frequently, they are unrealistic or irrational. They are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems or preoccupations. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or rituals or mental acts. OCD affects people of all ages. It often begins during childhood. OCD is a result of changes in your body's own natural chemistry.

Some adults with OCD say their symptoms started when they were kids, but that their condition didn't get recognized or treated until they were grown. Childhood-onset OCD may have a higher rate of comorbidity with Tourette syndrome and ADHD. Patients with OCD often feel shame regarding their symptoms and put great effort into concealing them from family, friends, and health care providers. OCD symptoms can worsen with stress; however, this does not appear to be an etiologic factor. OCD is no longer attributed to family problems or to attitudes learned in childhood. Instead, the search for causes now focuses on the interaction between biological factors and environmental influences. Childhood-onset OCD is more common in males and more likely to be linked genetically with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Tourette syndrome. Strep throat-Some children develop OCD after infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis -- strep throat. An antibody against strep throat bacteria sometimes mistakenly acts like a brain enzyme.

Children and adolescents often feel shame and embarrassment about their OCD. Many fear it means they're crazy and are hesitant to talk about their thoughts and behaviors. OCD appears to have an overall prevalence of 1.7-4%. Childhood-onset OCD is more common in males and more likely to be linked genetically with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Tourette syndrome. OCD afflicts about 3.3 million adults and about 1 million children and adolescents in the U.S. The disorder usually first appears in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. It occurs about equally in men and women and affects people of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. Medications as treatment include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine (Paxil, Aropax), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and fluvoxamine (Luvox) as well as the tricyclic antidepressants, in particular clomipramine (Anafranil).

Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder Treatment Tips

1. Pharmacotherapy- use of potent 5-HT reuptake inhibitors, such as the SSRIs and clomipramine (Anafranil).

2. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), especially in patients with comorbid depression.

3. Some medications such as the antidepressants clomipramine (Anafranil), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine and sertraline (Zoloft).

4. OCD primarily involves the brain regions of the striatum, the orbitofrontal cortex and the cingulate cortex.

5. Clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) used to be the usual treatment for OCD.

6. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and include well-known treatments such as Prozac (fluoxetine).

About the Author

Juliet Cohen writes articles for home remedies and homemade recipes. Learn how to give first aid in emergency situations.

CBT and OCD Treatment

2007-09-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

At my CBT therapy practice, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, people with varying forms of OCD account for 50% of my caseload of clients. Some of my clients also have support from NHS Community Mental Health Teams. However, often people come to see me who have been struggling for many years with OCD, with little or no support.

Most people, especially in times of stress, may have experienced OCD-type symptoms such as doubting you have turned off the oven or locked the door. However, for those with OCD, persistent doubts, urges or images are much more frequent, intrusive and distressing and can really lead to a reduced quality of life and disruption in occupational performance. For some the distress of living with OCD can also lead to depression.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is considered to be the therapy of choice for OCD, with research studies backing its effectiveness. CBT is a short term and structured psychological therapy that looks at the relationship between what we think, what we feel and how we respond. CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy, which examines cognitive processes such as unwanted thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs and behavioural therapy, which focuses on behaviour in response to those thoughts.

For example, a person with OCD may experience an unpleasant intrusive thought. Sometimes, although not always, the person with OCD may feel compelled to engage in a less than rational, compulsive behavior or mental ritual in a bid to reduce the anxiety associated with the thought. For example, excessive checking of door locks, washing of hands to avoid contamination or mental ritual of some kind. These very acts, which the person with OCD uses to cope with or reduce their OCD anxiety, in fact keep OCD going.

At my CBT therapy practice, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, the aim is to helps the person with OCD understand that by resisting the compulsive urge to check the locks, wash hands or mentally ritualize, they can eventually "sit out" their anxiety until the anxiety level naturally diminishes and fades over time. This is a technique known in CBT as exposure and response prevention. This technique helps OCD get better.

The treatment of OCD at my CBT therapy practice near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, also involves other techniques and methods such as equipping the person with relaxation and mindfulness skills, which are both very useful in managing OCD. Time is also given to helping the person set goals to begin re-engaging in life activities, which are important to them, if OCD has led to disruption in life roles.

In the cases of more severe OCD, medication can also be useful, therefore if you feel you may have OCD you should visit your GP for further information.

Karen Hastings is a NHS experienced mental health occupational therapist, Master NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist. Karen uses CBT, NLP and hypnotherapy in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk

Karen Hastings is a NHS experienced mental health occupational therapist, Master NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist. Karen uses hypnotherapy in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, along with cognitive therapy approaches. For more information about Hypnotherapy, Herts visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Hastings,_Herts

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When thinking or doing it once is not enough

2007-08-30T22:54:00.000-07:00

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: When thinking or doing it once is not enough by kristine

Aside from being mega-rich and famous, what do David Beckham and Leonardo di Caprio have in common? Both suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by an obsessive or distressing thought. It may also involve compulsions or "rituals." It is such a serious concern that event the World Health Organization has labeled OCD as among the top 10 most disabling illnesses faced by society today. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 3.3 million people are suffering from OCD.

The football superstar David Beckham once said in an interview that he had been struggling for years with OCD. He said that he was obsessed with getting everything in a straight line or having objects in pairs. He revealed that every time he went to a hotel, he had to keep all leaflets and books inside a cabinet before he can relax. The multi-awarded actor, Leonardo di Caprio said that there was a time that he avoided stepping on cracks and other very specific things.

It is true that most people can't stand living in an untidy house, which is quite normal. But what if you had to repeatedly align all the chairs and tables? What if you had to make sure that there were exactly seven cups in a row in the cupboard? Or you insist on making the middle part of the sofa perfectly squared towards the television? Others "obsess" on other things like checking if the lights were turned off, which is done not once, but several times throughout the day. There are individuals who actually worry about having knives and other sharp objects at home, thinking that they might hurt someone with these instruments. Even more distracting to the daily routine is the obsession with cleaning one's hands. Somehow, some people can't stop themselves from rushing to the bathroom to wash their hands over, and over, and over again. These types of behavior or symptoms of anxiety have been called a lot of names but none seems to fit the bill. People have called it depression, phobia, over-worrying, or panic. More that just being symptoms of stress and anxiety, these actuations point out to a more serious psychiatric condition Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD.

It is true that a little anxiety doesn't hurt. Anxiety is what some scientists call an "evolutionary survival mechanism." There is a big difference between just knowing that a hungry tiger is outside your tent and having enough anxiety to prompt you to flee the potential danger. But how do you know when your stress and anxiety over objects, thoughts, situations, or events are serious enough to be considered as OCD? When a reaction is recurrent, persistent or repetitive --- it may be signs of OCD. It is also important to define if a person's reactions are obsessive or compulsive. An obsession is a recurrent or persistent thought that may not even be related to real-life problems or situations. The obsessive thoughts are intrusive and cause distress on a person. On the other hand, a compulsion is a repetitive behavior that drives a person to act in response to an obsession. These repetitious acts are done by the person to control or manage the stress or perceived danger brought about by the obsession. Clearly, when an obsession or compulsion disturbs a person's life, causes distress, and takes up ore than an hour per day ---- these may be classified under OCD.

In the 14th to 16th centuries, the obsessive-compulsive behavior was actually believed to have been caused by the devil. Recurring sexual, blasphemous and other obsessive thoughts were considered to be the "work of the devil" and, thus, needed to be cured through exorcism. While many today consider OCD as a psychological disorder, there are scientists who believe that abnormalities in the brain or a streptococcal infection may cause the disorder.

People suffering from OCD have sought anxiety relief by using antidepressant prescriptions. These medications help make serotonin more available in some parts of the brain. Serotonin is a substance inside the brain that helps regulate anger, aggressions, mood, anxiety, and even sexual desire and appetite for food. Fluoxetine, usually sold under the brand name Prozac, has become one of the most commonly prescribed medications for OCD sufferers. For some patients, drugs are needed because of the severity of the condition which is both time-consuming and emotionally draining. Other means of anxiety disorder treatment include behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy, which includes exposure and ritual prevention or ERP.

Indeed, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder cannot ignore or even act their way out of it, even if they are as good as Di Caprio. But with a little attention and professional health care, a OCD sufferer can slowly but surely address this condition and kick off those obsessions and compulsions like Beckham.

About the Author

DrugstoreTM.com is a reputable online drug store.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Treatment For OCD

2007-08-09T07:30:00.001-07:00

OCD is a common problem that can be overcome with CBT, either by using a CBT based self-help book or via more intensive therapist support.

OCD is characterised by obsessions and compulsions. An obsession is a persistent thought, image or urge that comes into your mind and sets off feelings of anxiety and distress. These obsessions occur frequently, are intrusive and not easy to get rid of. For example, common obsessions in OCD include, thoughts or images of violence, blasphemous thoughts, fear of contamination, sexual thoughts or images and excessive concern with health. In OCD a compulsion is an act or ritual that is repeated and repeated in reaction to an obsessive thought. A compulsion may be an behavioural act such as repeatedly checking the door is locked or a mental act such as saying something or picturing something to make the distressing feeling, associated with the obsessive thought feel better.

Usually when I treat people for OCD at my CBT therapy practice in Hertfordshire, I find that the method that the person with OCD uses to cope with or solve their OCD, is the very factor keeping their OCD going. This is because people with OCD commonly give a special meaning or powerfulness to their obsessive thoughts, usually that having the thought will lead to something bad happening to themselves or others. As a consequence, the person will usually mistakenly believe that the way to solve the obsessive thought is to try to block it or carry out a compulsion to "undo" the thought. What we know is that our brains work in such a way that trying to block a thought will only make it more frequent and whilst carrying out a compulsion will make the person feel better initially, it will actually feed the OCD so that the problem keeps going.

This can be likened to having "just one puff" to get rid of a craving for nicotine when trying to give up smoking. Whilst for a short period the craving is dealt with (distressing feeling in OCD), it actually leads to stronger and increased cravings.

When working with clients at my CBT therapy practice, Herts who have OCD a lot of time is spent identifying the persons OCD maintaining factors. Typical factors that keep OCD going include: giving thoughts more meaning then they deserve, misunderstanding about why you have the particular obsessions you have, avoidance and safety seeking behaviour (avoiding anxiety triggered by the thought by blocking or undoing the thought with a compulsion, avoiding situations that you associate with the obsessive thought, asking others for reassurance), giving too much time and attention to your obsessions, trying to control your thoughts and thinking biases.

CBT therapy, Herts, works by helping the person unravel the factors that maintain their OCD in order to build a different solution to overcome it. Treatment will then involve exposure and without responding, with the support of your therapist. This basically involves accepting your obsessive thoughts in such a way that you learn to tolerate the anxiety which accompanies them without carrying out any compulsions. Eventually the anxiety naturally fades so that you will be able to experience the thought without finding it distressing. This is called habituation.

About the Author

Karen Hastings is a NHS experienced senior mental health occupational therapist, Master NLP practitioner and hypnotherapist. Karen uses hypnotherapy in Hertfordshire, along with cognitive therapy and NLP approaches. For more information visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk

How to Treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2007-07-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

How to treat obsessive compulsive disorder depends on the depth of the problem. The longer the condition has existed, the more difficult and more ingrained it will be. The first step, however, is to identify whether you actually have obsessive compulsive disorder.
We all have certain rituals we apply throughout our day. They can include double checking the locks on your house or car, frequent hand washing, and little quirks like tapping your pencil three times before starting a test.
As long as they don't preoccupy a significant part of your day, these rituals are meaningless. Double checking locks and whether the stove is off are good habits to get into for obvious reasons. Washing your hands after any event that can cause dangerous germs is also a good ritual. Patting your pocket to check that you have your keys is also a logical action.
'Good luck' motions are also okay when they are occasional and under certain situations. These might be touching your hat before striking that golf ball, tapping the dash of your car before driving away, or a some other seemingly pointless action.
What's The Difference Between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) And Just Plain Rituals? The way to differentiate obsessive compulsive disorder from a simple ritual is easy. People with OCD tend to repeatedly do the same thing over and over, well beyond necessity. For instance, they'll wash their hands once, then do it repeatedly to convince themselves they have cleaned off the dangerous germs.
The obsessive part of OCD is caused by things like fear of germs and dirt, fear of illness or injury, imagining being harmed, fear of losing control, fear of having aggressive urges, fear of immoral thoughts, etc.
Compulsions are attempts to rid themselves of those obsessive thoughts. The resulting obsessions usually can include repeated hand washing, counting, checking and touching.
In essence, they're trying to treat their obsessive tendencies by applying compulsive actions. Another method they often use to self-treat is to self-medicate, which can cause substance-abuse (drugs or alcohol) problems.
Obsessive behavior like this takes over their lives because they never feel they are clean enough or that they have removed the fears. They spend so much time at the behavior that they make themselves late for appointments.
A child might feel the compulsion to touch or count every single post in a fence he or she passes. A common one is trying not to step on the cracks of the sidewalk. These can carry on into adulthood, too.
When the condition becomes a distraction, it can produce extreme distress and anxiety. Stress can make the condition worse.
What Causes Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? It has been suggested that OCD involves communication problems in the brain, which has been linked to a brain chemical called serotonin which controls brain communications. Insufficient levels of this chemical are known to be involved. Other than this, researchers cannot prove any known cause of OCD. They have established, though, that it can run in families.
OCD can resemble post traumatic stress disorder, but the difference is that OCD is not specifically caused by a terrible event as is post traumatic stress disorder. It is also easy to distinguish from psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and delusions because people with obsessive compulsive disorder are fully aware of what's real and what's not.
They also realize that their condition is not normal. This causes them to hide from society because they are embarrassed or ashamed.
How To Treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy At one time, no one knew how to treat obsessive compulsive disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is now known to be the answer. Interesting to note that cognitive behavioral therapy is also now commonly used to treat anxiety and panic. This makes it the ideal treatment for people who are obsessive compulsive and anxious.
While medications to boost the serotonin levels will help to relieve the symptoms, cognitive behavioral therapy will cause drastic improvements in the long term.
Cognitive behavioral therapy involves reprogramming the brain so it becomes desensitized to those fearful thoughts and situations. It teaches the individuals alternate ways of handling the worries, fears, apprehensions, stress and anxiety in their lives.
You need to find someone who knows how to treat obsessive compulsive disorder. A cognitive behavioral therapy specialist should be sought because they'll understand the condition and exactly what you're going through and how to help you overcome it.
Every community has local mental health specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors who are training specifically in how to treat obsessive compulsive behavior. Start with your doctor and he will be able to determine the right path for you. It might be necessary to acquire his services if serotonin therapy is required.
Here is one comprehensive program that provides complete instructions on how to overcome anxiety and related conditions such as OCD by using cognitive behavioral therapy
If you want more information about How To Treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Click Here!
About the Author
John Olsen has OCD. After more than two decades with this disorder he finally got help.

Cognitive Therapy and Obessive Compulsive Disorder

2007-07-05T20:32:00.000-07:00

For many people, obsessive-compulsive disorder responds well to a combination of antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy. Most people with OCD appear to be predisposed to the symptoms. Usually you can find other extended family members who share a similar pattern of ritualistic behavior. Therapeutic treatment involves the following process: relabeling, reattribution, relaxation techniques and refocusing strategies.
Relabeling and reattribution techniques are designed to assist in objectifying the disorder and realizing that people are more than their obsessions. For example, I teach people to internally respond by saying, "A part of my brain works in ways that make me repeat things continuously. This is merely my disorder speaking; I am more than my disorder." This way of perceiving one’s obsessive features helps people to detach the nature of their problem from their sense of self.
Relaxation techniques may involve exercise, music, message, meditation and vacationing in a soothing environment. These strategies slow down the sympathetic nervous system minimizing anxiety and making it easier for people with OCD to manage their thoughts and behavior. One’s level of anxiety is directly related to the impact of compulsive behavior. Refocusing techniques refers to assisting patients to shift from obsessional thinking and behavior to other more self-rewarding activities. A change in activities lessens the impact of the OCD thinking and behavior. For example, a child may have a ritualistic pattern of continuously changing the television remote control in a certain order. A therapeutic goal might be to get the child to leave his obsession by getting up and leaving the room, possibly departing the house for a brief walk. I have people track the intensity of their anxiety during the time that they are away from their ritualistic behavior. When removed from an obsessional behavior, anxiety initially becomes worse and then dissipates in strength over time. Once the child returns to the obsessional pattern after voluntarily leaving it, it usually has decreased in its impact and intensity. The child may say, "I was able to keep from repeating the pattern continuously. I only did it twice!" Reinforcement and encouragement are important for people attempting to minimize obsessive patterns.
Those who experience OCD are typically anxious about their symptoms and fight to get rid of them. It is essential that those who suffer from OCD learn to accept their symptoms rather than struggle with them. Acceptance of any form of anxiety helps one to minimize the symptoms. For example, one might say, “Here come those “crazy feelings” again. They sure are annoying but they won’t hurt me. If I learn to “let them be” they will eventually dissipate in their effect on me.”
It is important for those who experience OCD to share their problem with a close friend or therapist. Expressing one’s feelings about the pattern may help in dealing with any feelings of shame or embarrassment. For the OCD sufferer, it is significant to remember that most people experience features of the disorder. All behavioral problems lie on a continuum. Struggling with OCD is no exception. When we share our problems with others, we realize that we are not alone in our difficulties. It takes courage to admit that we are less than perfect and to allow ourselves to share our humanity with others. When we learn to quit fighting with our imperfections, the issue eventually seems less troublesome.
James P. Krehbiel, Ed.S., LPC is an author, freelance writer, and nationally certified cognitive-behavioral therapist practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona. His book, Stepping Out of the Bubble is available at amazon.com. James can be reached at http://www.krehbielcounseling.com
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Two Methods to Cure Your OCD Symptoms that Work

2007-07-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

Do you think you may suffer from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)? If so, you know how difficult it can be to deal with an OCD symptom. Many people with it probably feel hopeless when it comes to the idea of managing Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. If you do have an OCD symptom, the good news is that it can be cured. Dealing with an OCD symptom isn't easy but it can be done.
OCD is actually considered one of the top 10 afflictions worldwide according to the World Health Organization. One in 50 Americans will have or develop Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at some point in their lives. That is certainly a scary and eye-opening statistic. And it goes to show why diagnosing your OCD symptom is so important, especially when considering that the disorder was once considered rare.
There are many things to learn about the disorder when it comes to managing and curing your OCD symptom. Did you know that there is no specific medical test that will diagnose Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Obviously there is a lot to learn for someone that is looking at getting their OCD symptom cured. The good thing is that there is a lot of research going on and researchers are finding new and improved methods for curing your ODC.
If you are diagnosed with the disorder based on your OCD symptom, there are two main methods for curing OCD. They are with medication and behavioral therapy.
MedicationThere are several types of medication that can be used to cure your OCD. These medications used for curing an OCD symptom are usually selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These drugs work by decreasing the frequency and intensity of the obsessions and compulsions. Such treatment will usually take a few weeks before your OCD symptom starts to go away.
Behavioral TherapyBehavioral Therapy may be the best way to go for curing an OCD symptom especially if the idea of being on medication doesn't sound appealing. There are quite a few methods that a therapist can try to help with curing your OCD symptom.
Some effective behavioral therapies that a therapist may encourage include aversion therapy, thought stopping, thought switching, and explosure.
There are several more behavioral therapies that may help you in curing your OCD. Many times the best way for getting rid of your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is to actually combine the medication and behavioral therapy methods. The combination method usually works best.
I hope you now have some hope when it comes to diagnosing and curing your OCD symptom. With the right attitude and combination of treatments, anyone should be able to succeed in curing an OCD symptom. Don't give up hope, you can do it!
About the Author
Jack McGoughey is a freelance writer that has had the experience of having and defeating OCD.
Were these tips useful in helping you learn a little about what it takes to cure OCD? If so, you can visit the following site where you will get further details and a guide to help you cure OCD:
http://apexware.fastspace.biz/ocd.htm

Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2007-07-04T23:51:00.000-07:00

Are you aware that about one in every fifty adults in the U.S. has obsessive compulsive disorder? An individual suffering from this condition becomes overwhelmed with persistent thoughts and actions. This means that an individual hat is affected with this condition will lose the ability to function normally on a daily basis. Fortunately, a victim can overcome all these encompassing thoughts and repetitive actions through an obsessive compulsive disorder treatment.
There’s a good chance that you have experienced the feeling that you left the stove on in the kitchen when deep down you know that you shut it off. People often fret over the idea of their homes going up in smoke because of oversight. You can often find yourself thinking through the steps you took in the morning before you left home in order to come to the conclusion that you did indeed shut off the stove. However, other people are incapable of doing this.
If you are suffering from this disorder, then you will go back home, check to see that you did actually shut off the stove and leave again only to return in a little while to check the stove again. A victim knows that the stove is off but his thoughts and actions work against his mind.
Cognitive therapy is one of the most successful obsessive compulsive disorder treatments available. This treatment works with the individual’s mind rather than his mood. Since it focuses on thought patterns and helps the patient exercise his brain, this is an ideal obsessive compulsive disorder treatment.
However, cognitive therapy is not the best approach as a treatment for conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. You see, these are mood disorders that hinge on an individual’s emotions rather than his cognitive functioning. You can definitely reap the benefits of using cognition as an obsessive compulsive disorder treatment, even if it is difficult to think yourself out of a mood.
A cognitive approach for obsessive compulsive disorder treatment is a good first step in gaining control of the thought patterns that lead to the behavior patterns. An individual can find that the repetitive behavior and craving for order diminish significantly once the thoughts are under control. The individual will gradually function on a relatively normal basis with a regular obsessive compulsive disorder treatment.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Obsessive Compulsive Disorder . Visit our site for more helpful information about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other similar topics.
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